Rate Our Summer Signings

[Din]

There's a fair bit of the season gone now, so our new signings have had plenty of time to settle in, so how do you think they've done?
 
Carlos Cuellar - 7/10.
 
Obviously hasn't been given a run in the team yet. However in the 2 league games he has played against Forest and Wigan, he has looked very composed and generally solid at the back. He'll hopefully get a spell in the starting line-up now, and as a free transfer it's a good bit of business.
 
Lewis Grabban - 4/10.
 
Great at the start of the season. Had a good goalscoring record, and although his performances weren't fantastic, they were good enough. However he always missed many more chances than he took. Recently though he has been appalling. Works hard but doesn't really offer much else, and has very little to no impact on the game. He hasn't scored now in 11, and has only scored 1 in the last 14. It's very disappointing considering he started the season so well, and hopefully he'll be able to get back on track soon. However, now that Hooper is back from injury and in good form it's very hard for him to break into the first team.
 
Kyle Lafferty - 6/10.
 
It's hard to truly know with Lafferty how good he actually is until he's played up front. He hasn't played as a striker at all this season, even though it's clear from his international form that that is his best position. Like Grabban though he started the season well but has somewhat fizzled out since we've gone on this bad run, however he is a player I like. He works very hard, and is very direct, and isn't afraid to take the defender on. I think he'll do much better in a central position but we might never know as Neil hasn't given him that opportunity. The one thing he definitely needs to improve on is his disciplinary though. When he comes off the bench it's often a case of 'how long until he gets booked?', which is usually not long. 6/10 may be a little generous judging on what we've seen so far, but I personally do like him.
 
Cameron Jerome - 8/10.
 
Easily our best signing so far. 8 goals in 14 starts, which is a superb record. Very strong, very quick, and great in the air. He is also brilliant at holding the ball up and bringing others into play. He works hard off the ball as well. You also get the impression from the interviews that he does, that he's got a great attitude, and is very professional. He has been out of sorts though in the last few games, which is a little frustrating, but if he can get back on form then him and Hooper would be a lethal combination. £1.5m is a great price as well. 
 
Jos Hooiveld - 4/10.
 
Had a couple of decent games, but in general he looks very slow, and gets turned far too easily. He's good in the air but he is certainly not the quality we need if we want to get promoted. Once Ryan Bennett comes back from injury he could be as low as 5th choice centre back, behind Turner, Cuellar, Bennett and Martin, which is probably for the best.
 
Ignasi Miquel - N/A.
 
Hasn't played in the league yet so can't judge.
 
Gary O'Neil - 7/10.
 
Great option to have at this level. Not someone who's necessarily going to start week in week out, and we do probably have 'better' options in centre mid than him. But he keeps things very simple, very rarely gives the ball away, and in general is a calming influence in the middle of the park. He seemingly is also the only one of our players who can actually take a set-piece as well. As I said, he's a nice player to have at this level, and is a very useful squad member if nothing else. 
 
Conor McGrandles - N/A.
 
Hasn't played in the league yet so can't judge.
 
Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe - N/A.
 
Looked very good when he came off the bench against Leeds a few weeks ago, but apart from that has looked a little bit off the pace. However he's only played 3 games and is now injured so can't really judge.

 

[morty]

Good post! Maybe a wee bit harsh on Grabban though?

 

[Din]

Good post! Maybe a wee bit harsh on Grabban though?

Perhaps yeah. He was influential in the first few games after all. However it has become increasingly frustrating to watch him, and not scoring in 11 straight games (even though it isn't completely his fault) isn't a good enough return for a first choice striker in a title challenging team. 

 

[morty]

Perhaps yeah. He was influential in the first few games after all. However it has become increasingly frustrating to watch him, and not scoring in 11 straight games (even though it isn't completely his fault) isn't a good enough return for a first choice striker in a title challenging team. 

Oh I don't disagree, but I would maybe give him 5 or 5 and a half, like you say, not all his fault.

Its really a bit of a mixed bag, I guess I thought we'd be paying top dollar for players that would easily slot into the Champiobship, but it turns out the one who has fitted in best, is the one I least expected to, Jerome.

 

[GJP]

We seem to turn a blind eye to Jerome's poor games and misses - and he has missed a few sitters.

Grabban gets hammered for everything.

Probably just the timing of it. Grabban lost his way just as Jerome came into the team and Jerome had a bright start. So pretty quickly Grabban could do no right and Jerome no wrong.

Has Jerome edged it over the course of the season? Probably. Is the difference 4/10 and 8/10? No. Not at all. It's much closer than that.

And I do feel a bit sorry for Grabban. A great start to his career yet the crowd haven't really got behind him once he went off the boil - even though what he did earlier in the season really should have bought him a bit more support from the fans.

 

[Yellow Fever]

Agree with GJP, as I don't understand this vendetta against Grabban whose 6 goals in 19 matches (4 of those as sub) doesn't rate a 4 or even a 5. His form has dipped of late, as has the team's, but he works his socks off for the team. New players have to be seen in the context of the whole team:

Ruddy 6

Whittaker 6

Martin 7

Turner 7

Cuellar 7

Hooiveld 6

Olsson 6

Tettey 7

Johnson 6.5

Howson 7.5

Hoolahan 7

Redmond 7.5

Grabban 6.5

Jerome 8

Hooper 7.5

Lafferty 6.5

Josh Murphy 6

 

[Dubai Mark]

Each signing at the time looked very solid.

Even considering Jerome, O'Neil and Cuellar have done well, the problem is bigger than individuals, ashe team/squad has been managed poorly and as a result just about all of them have under achieved, some massively. 

 

[Salopian]

I hope that Grabban and Jerome come good. We need pace and strength up front.

Of the two I have more worries about Grabban, who seems to lack technique and control. I don't know how far it is possible to improve in these areas at his present age.He has scored a few goals, but one or two were tap-ins and not much challenge to him.

Jerome has technique, and is probably a more creative player. His problem is consistency. For a few games he was scoring one or two every match, but he has now gone several without scoring.

Marks out of 10? Grabban 5, Jerome 6

 

[eatonparkboy]

I haven't looked at overall appearances, but I believe that many of our signings really haven't had much game time.

I'm positive that the bulk of the team has been made up of last season's players. 

Ruddy

Martin

Whittaker

Turner

Ollson

Tettey

Johnson

Redmond

appear to have played the bulk of the games and no doubt apart from injuries, Howson would be added to that list.

It appears that NA has put his faith in a squad assembled by his predecessor, apart from the striking roles that is.

Maybe our apparent demise is down to those players. So I find it difficult to judge many of our new signings based on infrequent appearances. However, those who have appeared more regularly are the strikers, although Lafferty has not been used up front. And out of those three players, obviously Jerome has shone brighter. Grabban is very mobile but from the streams I saw of him playing for Bournemouth, he is being used differently by NA, so he could be considered unlucky. I am not a fan of Lafferty. I think he has ability but his head is on someone elses shoulders at times.

 

[Suffolk Canary]

I have a horrible feeling Vadis will be one of those 'ghost' signings,  who never plays due to injury and then leaves.  Hope I'm wrong though. Judging from his youtube videos, he looks a good player.

  And i don't think we'll see McGrandles in serious contention for the first team for a while yet.  Still a young guy

 

[Paul Handscombe]

Grabban 2

Jerome 7

Hoiveld 5

Cuellar 5

O'neill 7 (should play more instead of Johnson)

Lafferty 6 (played out of position all season)

 

[Yellow Fever]

I have a horrible feeling Vadis will be one of those 'ghost' signings,  who never plays due to injury and then leaves.  Hope I'm wrong though. Judging from his youtube videos, he looks a good player.

  And i don't think we'll see McGrandles in serious contention for the first team for a while yet.  Still a young guy

I also have worries about Odjidja-Ofoe, but his current setback seems to be a precautionary scan, so hopefully he'll get the all clear as I think he could be a big player for the rest of the season.

 

[hogesar]

Grabban is far better than people are giving him credit for.

I find it a little bit odd that Lafferty is getting much higher ratings than him. Who's won us more games? Who's contributed more? Grabban.

He's low on confidence but despite his really good start fans didn't take to him for some reason and he's struggled to get the backing he deserves, as GJP has said.

 

[Din]

We seem to turn a blind eye to Jerome's poor games and misses - and he has missed a few sitters.

Grabban gets hammered for everything.

Probably just the timing of it. Grabban lost his way just as Jerome came into the team and Jerome had a bright start. So pretty quickly Grabban could do no right and Jerome no wrong.

Has Jerome edged it over the course of the season? Probably. Is the difference 4/10 and 8/10? No. Not at all. It's much closer than that.

And I do feel a bit sorry for Grabban. A great start to his career yet the crowd haven't really got behind him once he went off the boil - even though what he did earlier in the season really should have bought him a bit more support from the fans.

As I said to Morty, maybe a 4/10 is a bit uncharitable, but I would argue that there has been a big difference between Jerome and Grabban. 

Whilst Grabban did score some very important goals, and did show some good link-up play, as well as working hard off the ball. However, his all-round game was never truly convincing. He wasn't ever massively involved in each game like same way Jerome has been in certain games this season (Cardiff, Brentford). Plus despite the fact that he scored a fair few in the opening games, he missed many many more than he scored. He could've easily had a hat-trick against Ipswich. And this current run of not scoring in 11 games, and only 1 goal in 14 games (which admittedly he has been on the bench for a few of them, and it is certainly not completely his fault) is not good enough for a first choice striker in a team that are aiming to win the league. I don't want to keep laying into him, because I genuinly have nothing at all against him, and think that on form he is a very good striker at this level, but whilst we're on the subject, a few of his goals were fairly lucky as well. Deflected goals against both Watford and Blackpool, that if they hadn't of got a touch would probably have been saved. The penalty miss against Blackburn, that just fortunately happened to fall back at his feet from the re-bound. And his second against Blackburn, where he had effectively an open goal, but took too much time and his shot was blocked, and again it fortunately came back to him.

Jerome however to me is a much more complete striker, and he has shown throughout his Norwich career so far. He's quicker than Grabban, stronger than Grabban, better in the air than Grabban, and better at holding the ball up than Grabban. He also cost half the price. Like Grabban he does hard, and he also has had poor games. But he hasn't had as many below par performances, and he also doesn't miss as many chances. Also in all competitions he has scored more goals from less game. That's why at the moment I think that Jerome is a much better bit of business than Grabban.

Despite my criticism of him, I do really like Grabban, and I really hope that he can find his early season form, however I do think that on the whole he has had a poor season.

 

[GJP]

I don't think Jerome's hold up play is particularly good. Yes, occassionally he does get it right but actually his loose control has cost us possession a number of times.

He's not that great in the air either. He's good at winning a header that he's clear favourite for and isn't really challenged. But a lot of the time he just makes a token gesture effort to jump beside the defender. He's also missed some headers he should have buried - chances that Grabban would have seen a lot more criticism for.

I should add that I am a fan of Jerome. I was very pleased when we signed him. But in my opinion you can also tell that Jerome sort of just goes through the motions sometimes, he doesn't always play like he really means it.

There's just not a lot of difference between Jerome and Grabban but the way people go on you'd think it was Aguero vs Cureton. 

 

[Din]

There's just not a lot of difference between Jerome and Grabban but the way people go on you'd think it was Aguero vs Cureton. 

To be fair I'd have Cureton all day long 

 

[ZLF]

Carlos Cuellar - 5/10.  
Looks ok at CB but still been found wanting,  very right footed; some unimpressive appearances at RB
Lewis Grabban - 6/10.  
Opinions too harsh.   The clubs best lone striker and started the season well.  Champs is his level but seems to struggle as part of a front pair.  Gives the team far more than hooper.
Kyle Lafferty - 6/10
Very varied performances,  some great,  some forgetable. but I like his professionalism;  yes he can be rampaging (interesting we loved that in holt) but many of his cards have been great game play.   Def not a striker,  The best wide left mid option at the club.
Cameron Jerome - 7/10.   Yes he has had some quiet games but we tend to look worse when he goes off.   
Jos Hooiveld - 5/10.   Unbeaten when starting; painfully slow (pace is hugely overrated) but defensively sound in spite of that.    The natural partner for Turner (who he outplays, which martin has never done)  Would like to see him with Cuellar.
Garry O'Neil 7/10   Has that touch of professional class that is missing from BJ and the consistency that is missing from Howson.  Criminally underused this season and his partnership with tettey seems to be improving.  Foundation 
VOO 4- too brief but uninspiring performances so far;  plenty of time to improve and show why we were excited in the summer.
 
 Ignasi Miquel & Conor McGrandles - both signings for the future - who knows?
 
 
More worrying (and who knows with the unseen pair) for me is that when we get promoted none of them look good enough to have an impact in the prem.

 

[gerryinromania]

Grabban. He has many varying views about him and his game...Anyone remember Malcom Macdonald...Missed so many goals, but scored so many goals, tap ins, deflections,lucky ones, screamers. They all counted. He admitted that he missed many, but also said that he wouldn't score any if he didn't try ..' The more I miss, the more I score ' Check out his c.v

 

[Yellow Fever]

Although not a summer signing, Ryan Bennett seems to be nearing a comeback according to the report in the Pink'un, which also updates the situation of Odjidja-Ofoe:

"Adams confirmed afterwards central defender Ryan Bennett played in a practice match on Saturday morning to step up his recovery from ankle surgery. Bennett will be involved in next week’s development game against Liverpool’s Under-21s at Carrow Road. Belgian international Vadis Ofoe may also figure after getting the all-clear from a specialist following a setback in his recovery from a knee injury."

Good news all around it seems.

 

[Canaryboy]

Grabban has had a terrible run of form but early in the season we saw a decent striker who doesn't have a great all round game but was able to create a chance for himself from nothing and stick the ball in the net, I feel that a 4/10 is harsh. It would probably accurately reflect the standard of some of his recent performances but I think it would be harsh to give that score if rating his ability, we knew that he was a so-called 'confidence player' when we signed him.

Remember that Simeon Jackson didn't look much cop in the first half of Lambert's Championship season but contributed plenty in the second half of the campaign. He was no better than Grabban, both just confidence players, and hopefully his goal yesterday will go some way towards helping him rediscover his cutting edge. 

Can't defend Hooiveld against his 4/10 yet though, and I'm wondering whether we should just send him back in January now that we know Cuellar still has something to offer and with Ryan Bennett close to a return!